K9SRR
Member
What government/law enforcement agencies can legitimately demand to see you license other than an FCC agent?
Let me see your license...
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Why would they have a reason to? The only instance I can think of is in a state where scanner laws exempt amateur radio operators; in which case you would want to show them your license to avoid scanner confiscation, fines, or worse.
Hit_Factor
Member
Not a good idea to argue, if they ask for it, comply the best you can.
It's hard to define legitimate, but if any Officer has articulable suspicion they are probably legitimately asking for it.
Having been a LEO I never had the need. I'm having a hard time coming up with a scenario where I would have asked for it.
Why do you ask?
Hunting/fishing license is entirely different. If a person could not produce it they were ticketed, never once a warning. If they went and bought the license afterward, and brought it to me. I tore up the ticket.
It's hard to define legitimate, but if any Officer has articulable suspicion they are probably legitimately asking for it.
Having been a LEO I never had the need. I'm having a hard time coming up with a scenario where I would have asked for it.
Why do you ask?
Hunting/fishing license is entirely different. If a person could not produce it they were ticketed, never once a warning. If they went and bought the license afterward, and brought it to me. I tore up the ticket.
FCC rules no longer require amateur radio operators to carry their licenses. Local law enforcement is not empowered to enforce federal communications laws. However, good judgement is always in order. No need to cause unnecessary trouble.
K9SRR
Member
Why do young dumb cops do anything? I was once one of those cops. I would agree with the scanner reasoning however. I did not think of that one. Great answer. Thank you
Hit_Factor
Member
Asking to see a ham license is a long way off from enforcing FCC regulations.
K9SRR
Member
Much like asking for my fishing license just because I have a fly rod in the vehicle and I am no where near water. My issue is with folks staying in their proverbial lane. If a county mounty stops me for a traffic infraction, that is his/her/it’s business. Tha ham radio in my dash is not. Thanks for responding. I do appreciate everyone’s opinions
Anyone can demand to see it. You can tell them to go pound sand. Let them do whatever they need to do, and you present your case and license in court if asked by a judge.
K9SRR
Member
As displeased as some folks here will be with me, I completely agree with you and that is my stance.
Just tell 'em you're good on QRZ. 
If you have nothing to hide whats the problem?
On the other hand, maybe if you show your license, you won't have to go to court. I don't know about you but I've got more important things to do.
They can all legitimately demand, hell anyone can legitimately demand anything...is the outcome of refusing/denying really worth it?
bb911
Member
Years ago in California you had to wear/display your fishing license in plain view. There's an idea- ham licenses must be worn while operating. Wait, it would have to be worn only when transmitting.
It's the principle of the matter. I would find time to go to court instead of giving my license to some idiot cop who has no right to see it.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
I carry a copy in the glove box of both our vehicles. My wife and I both have our amateur licenses. I'd have no problem showing them to law enforcement if they asked. It's the reason I keep it in there. Since we occasionally visit family in Canada, we wanted to have it on hand just in case either side asked crossing the border.
My GROL is posted at work, anyone in the office can see it.
When I was active on GMRS, I kept a copy of that license in the glove box, also.
There's no useful info on the amateur license, GMRS license or GROL that isn't already on your vehicle registration. If an officer really needed to know, it's easy enough to run the name/address through the public FCC database and get a copy of the license.
As for the "principal" of it, I get it, but I guess we all choose our own battles. I work with a lot of public safety professionals, and I've found them to be mostly reasonable, decent people, and I don't feel the need to start and argument with them over stuff like this.
My GROL is posted at work, anyone in the office can see it.
When I was active on GMRS, I kept a copy of that license in the glove box, also.
There's no useful info on the amateur license, GMRS license or GROL that isn't already on your vehicle registration. If an officer really needed to know, it's easy enough to run the name/address through the public FCC database and get a copy of the license.
As for the "principal" of it, I get it, but I guess we all choose our own battles. I work with a lot of public safety professionals, and I've found them to be mostly reasonable, decent people, and I don't feel the need to start and argument with them over stuff like this.
Right,,,that license with information that is available publicly anyway. mmckena is right. I guess you choose your battles.
Tell them you don't carry it, and you don't have to. What's he going to do then....impound the car?
He'll probably say, "You should...." and leave.
In any event, False Arrest civil cases are VERY profitable these days.
If he pursues it, tell him, hold it, I have one question to ask you: how many bedrooms does your house have, because I need one with at least two bedrooms.
He'll probably say, "You should...." and leave.
In any event, False Arrest civil cases are VERY profitable these days.
If he pursues it, tell him, hold it, I have one question to ask you: how many bedrooms does your house have, because I need one with at least two bedrooms.
Supposedly, in the State of Indiana, I should have to show my FCC-issued amateur radio license in order to get an Indiana amateur radio license plate. However, in all the years that I had an amateur radio plate, I don't think I was ever asked by the BMV to show my license.
So, to answer the OP's question, I can see where the state agency that issues vehicle registrations (aka license plates) is an example of a government/law enforcement agency that has a legitimate reason to ask for your amateur radio license.
As for choosing battles, I don't see a problem with showing my amateur radio license to a law enforcement officer who is executing a traffic stop on me. Heck, I've been stopped by LEOs who questioned the radio gear in my vehicle, but when I told them I was an amateur radio operator, they asked no more questions about the gear or my license status.
So, to answer the OP's question, I can see where the state agency that issues vehicle registrations (aka license plates) is an example of a government/law enforcement agency that has a legitimate reason to ask for your amateur radio license.
As for choosing battles, I don't see a problem with showing my amateur radio license to a law enforcement officer who is executing a traffic stop on me. Heck, I've been stopped by LEOs who questioned the radio gear in my vehicle, but when I told them I was an amateur radio operator, they asked no more questions about the gear or my license status.
royldean
Member
This is a common problem for sat hams who are operating in the field (with an HT and a handheld yagi, or sometimes a couple of all-mode transceivers if working the linear sats). I have no problem telling anybody that "I'm operating on an amateur radio satellite". I also have no problem ceasing if a property owner asks me to. However, I WILL NOT provide my license to anybody who demands it. Hell, if somebody who demands it sits around and listens, they'll hear my call and can look that up and find my name, address, etc (but they likely don't know that).
As for the "if you have nothing to hide, why not just provide it?"..... No. This isn't nazi germany. I'm not giving my "papers" to anybody who doesn't have a lawful right to demand them. Ask all you want, you aren't getting it. Hell, in PA you don't even have to provide ID to police even after being arrested (different if driving a car).... And thankfully they just repealed the rule requiring you to wear your fishing license on your clothes - so I won't have to feel like a chain gang prisoner anymore when catching crayfish with my daughter.....
As for the "if you have nothing to hide, why not just provide it?"..... No. This isn't nazi germany. I'm not giving my "papers" to anybody who doesn't have a lawful right to demand them. Ask all you want, you aren't getting it. Hell, in PA you don't even have to provide ID to police even after being arrested (different if driving a car).... And thankfully they just repealed the rule requiring you to wear your fishing license on your clothes - so I won't have to feel like a chain gang prisoner anymore when catching crayfish with my daughter.....
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